CAN 2027: Motsepe rules out any Plan B despite delays

Patrice Motsepe has dismissed the idea of a Plan B for the CAN 2027 and reaffirmed Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda as host nations, despite noted delays in certain aspects of the preparations. With just nine months to go before the kick-off, the CAF president has called for an acceleration of the outstanding work.

The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027. This week, CAF confirmed a new follow-up tour by Motsepe to Tanzania and then Kenya, aimed at assessing the progress of the infrastructure, operations, and facilities planned for the tournament.

During this visit, the South African leader rejected speculation about a change of host countries. He acknowledged that some projects and arrangements are behind schedule but assured that CAF intends to work with the three governments to address the gaps rather than seek an alternative solution.

The inspections focus on stadiums, training grounds, accommodation, transportation, security, and logistics. In early September, a CAF delegation had already completed eight days of inspections across the three countries, following the establishment in the spring of a PAMOJA oversight committee tasked with coordinating the preparations.

Motsepe announced a further assessment in January, at a more advanced stage of the work. The CAN 2027 will be the first edition of the tournament jointly organized by three countries and will mark the return of the competition to East Africa more than fifty years after its last occurrence in the region.